3D rock physics template-based probabilistic estimation of tight sandstone reservoir properties

Abstract

Quantitative prediction of reservoir properties (e.g., gas saturation, porosity, and shale content) of tight reservoirs is of great significance for resource evaluation and well placements. However, the complex pore structures, poor pore connectivity, and uneven fluid distribution of tight sandstone reservoirs make the correlation between reservoir parameters and elastic properties more complicated and thus pose a major challenge in seismic reservoir characterization. We have developed a partially connected double porosity model to calculate elastic properties by considering the pore structure and connectivity to analyze these factors’ influences on the elastic behaviors of tight sandstone reservoirs. The modeling results suggest that the bulk modulus is likely to be affected by the pore connectivity coefficient, while the shear modulus is sensitive to the volumetric fraction of stiff pores. By comparing the model predictions with the acoustic measurements of the dry and saturated quartz sandstone samples, the volumetric fraction of stiff pores and the pore connectivity coefficient can be determined. Based on the calibrated model, we have constructed a 3D rock physics template that accounts for the reservoir properties’ impacts on the P-wave impedance, S-wave impedance, and density. The template combined with Bayesian inverse theory is used to quantify gas saturation, porosity, clay content, and their corresponding uncertainties from elastic parameters. The application of well-log and seismic data demonstrates that our 3D rock physics template-based probabilistic inversion approach performs well in predicting the spatial distribution of high-quality tight sandstone reservoirs in southwestern China.